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Taylor NS, Sadowski J, Schuster HS, Weyers A, Weltje L. Occurrence of common frog (Rana temporaria) and common toad (Bufo bufo) adults and metamorphs in agricultural fields in Germany: Potential for exposure to plant protection products. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024. [PMID: 38837650 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
To characterize the potential for exposure of amphibian terrestrial life stages to plant protection products (PPP), we studied the occurrence and habitat use of adult and metamorph common frogs (Rana temporaria) and common toads (Bufo bufo) in an agricultural landscape in Germany. The four selected study sites were breeding ponds with approximately 80% agricultural land within a 1-km radius. Adults were monitored by radio tracking for two years, and metamorph numbers were assessed for one summer using pitfall traps alongside drift fences. The results demonstrate that adults were rarely present in arable fields at any of the sites (overall 0.5% and 4% of total observations for frogs and toads, respectively). Metamorph captures in arable fields were more variable, ranging from 1.2% to 38.8% (frogs) and from 0.0% to 26.1% (toads) across study sites. Unsurprisingly, most captures in arable fields for both toad and frog metamorphs occurred at the site where the pond was completely surrounded by arable fields. Overall, the presence of adult amphibians in arable fields was limited and, for the metamorphs, occurred primarily when crops were denser and PPP spray interception higher. Diurnal hiding behavior was observed with the highest activity recorded at night, further reducing the risk of dermal exposure from direct PPP overspraying. In addition, it appeared that alternative habitats, such as woody structures or water bodies in the broader surrounding area, were preferred by the animals over the arable areas. The use of buffer zones around water bodies in agricultural areas would be an effective risk mitigation measure to protect terrestrial adults and metamorphs residing there and would reduce spray drift entry into water bodies during PPP application. It is hoped that these results will contribute to the discussion of risk assessment and mitigation options for amphibians. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine S Taylor
- Cambridge Environmental Assessments (RSK ADAS Ltd), Cambridge, UK
| | - Jan Sadowski
- Current address: Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Münster, Germany
| | - Hanna S Schuster
- Cambridge Environmental Assessments (RSK ADAS Ltd), Cambridge, UK
| | - Arnd Weyers
- Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Monheim, Germany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions-Ecotoxicology, Limburgerhof, Germany
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Why link diverse citizen science surveys? Widespread arboreal habits of a terrestrial amphibian revealed by mammalian tree surveys in Britain. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265156. [PMID: 35793361 PMCID: PMC9258833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial anurans, with their typically short limbs, heavy-set bodies and absent claws or toe pads are incongruous tree climbers, but even occasional arboreal locomotion could offer substantial advantages for evading predators or accessing new shelter or food resources. Despite recent interest, arboreal behaviour remains rarely and unsystematically described for terrestrial amphibians in Europe, likely due to fundamental differences in survey methods and therefore a lack of field data. However, other taxa surveys specifically target trees and tree cavities. We undertook collaborations and large-scale data searches with two major citizen science projects surveying for arboreal mammals in Britain to investigate potential tree climbing by amphibians at a national scale. Remarkably, we found widespread arboreal usage by amphibians in England and Wales, with occupancy of hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellenarius) nest boxes, tree cavities investigated as potential bat roosts and even a bird nest, by common toads (Bufo bufo), but few additional records of frogs or newts. Of the 277–400 sites surveyed annually for dormice since 2009 at least 18 sites had amphibians recorded in nest boxes while of the 1388 trees surveyed for bats a total 1.4% (19 trees) had toads present. Common toads were found using cavities in seven tree species and especially goat willow (Salix caprea). Toads are potentially attracted to tree cavities and arboreal nests because they provide safe and damp microenvironments which can support an abundance of invertebrate prey but the importance of such tree microhabitats for toad conservation remains unknown and our results should be interpreted cautiously. We encourage expanding and linking of unrelated biodiversity monitoring surveys and citizen science initiatives as valuable tools for investigating ecological traits and interactions.
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Knutti J, Braunisch V, Pellet J, Arlettaz R. Improving longitudinal habitat connectivity in major river restoration projects through farmland re-allocation. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Zhang H, Zhu B, Zhou Y, He Q, Sun X, Wang J, Cui J. Females and males respond differently to calls impaired by noise in a tree frog. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9159-9167. [PMID: 34257950 PMCID: PMC8258198 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Both human and nonhuman animals communicating acoustically face the problem of noise interference, especially anurans during mating activities. Previous studies concentrated on the effect of continuous noise on signal recognition, but it is still unknown whether different notes in advertisement calls impaired by noise affect female choice and male-male competition or not. In this study, we tested female preferences and male-evoked vocal responses in serrate-legged small tree frog (Kurixalus odontotarsus), by broadcasting the five-note advertisement call and the advertisement call with the second, third, or fourth note replaced by noise, respectively. In phonotaxis experiments, females significantly discriminated against the advertisement call with the fourth note impaired by noise, although they did not discriminate against other two calls impaired by noise, which indicates that the negative effect of noise on female preference is related to the order of impaired notes in the advertisement call. In playback experiments, males increased the total number of notes in response to noise-impaired calls compared with spontaneous calls. More interestingly, the vocal responses evoked by noise-impaired calls were generally similar to those evoked by complete advertisement calls, suggesting that males may recognize the noise-impaired calls as complete advertisement calls. Taken together, our study shows that different notes in advertisement calls replaced by noise have distinct effects on female choice and male-male competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haodi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Bicheng Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Ya Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qiaoling He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoqian Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jichao Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Jianguo Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
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Leeb C, Kolbenschlag S, Laubscher A, Adams E, Brühl CA, Theissinger K. Avoidance behavior of juvenile common toads (Bufo bufo) in response to surface contamination by different pesticides. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242720. [PMID: 33253276 PMCID: PMC7704001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most agricultural soils are expected to be contaminated with agricultural chemicals. As the exposure to pesticides can have adverse effects on non-target organisms, avoiding contaminated areas would be advantageous on an individual level, but could lead to a chemical landscape fragmentation with disadvantages on the metapopulation level. We investigated the avoidance behavior of juvenile common toads (Bufo bufo) in response to seven pesticide formulations commonly used in German vineyards. We used test arenas filled with silica sand and oversprayed half of each with different pesticide formulations. We placed a toad in the middle of an arena, filmed its behavior over 24 hours, calculated the proportion of time a toad spent on the contaminated side and compared it to a random side choice. We found evidence for the avoidance of the folpet formulation Folpan® 500 SC, the metrafenone formulation Vivando® and the glyphosate formulation Taifun® forte at maximum recommended field rates for vine and a trend for avoidance of Wettable Sulphur Stulln (sulphur). No avoidance was observed when testing Folpan® 80 WDG (folpet), Funguran® progress (copper hydroxide), SpinTorTM (spinosad), or 10% of the maximum field rate of any formulation tested. In the choice-tests in which we observed an avoidance, toads also showed higher activity on the contaminated side of the arena. As video analysis with tracking software is not always feasible, we further tested the effect of reducing the sampling interval for manual data analyses. We showed that one data point every 15 or 60 minutes results in a risk of overlooking a weak avoidance behavior, but still allows to verify the absence/presence of an avoidance for six out of seven formulations. Our findings are important for an upcoming pesticide risk assessment for amphibians and could be a template for future standardized tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Leeb
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Sara Kolbenschlag
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Aurelia Laubscher
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Elena Adams
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Carsten A. Brühl
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Kathrin Theissinger
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
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Silva AFD, Malhado AC, Correia RA, Ladle RJ, Vital MV, Mott T. Taxonomic bias in amphibian research: Are researchers responding to conservation need? J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Leeb C, Brühl C, Theissinger K. Potential pesticide exposure during the post-breeding migration of the common toad (Bufo bufo) in a vineyard dominated landscape. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 706:134430. [PMID: 31855631 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Two important drivers of the global amphibian decline are habitat destruction due to an intensification of farming and a related increase of pesticide applications. Recent studies have shown that there might be an underestimated risk of pesticides on terrestrial amphibians. However, there are too few data on the terrestrial habitat use of amphibians in agricultural landscapes to estimate the exposure risk. To fill this knowledge gap, we used telemetry to investigate the post-breeding migration of 51 common toads (Bufo bufo) from a breeding pond in a vineyard-dominated landscape in Southern Palatinate (Germany). We expected most toads to migrate to the nearby Palatinate Forest as a terrestrial habitat. However, only four individuals reached the forest, suggesting that a part of the population is inhabiting the agricultural landscape over large parts of the year. Individuals were also found directly in the vineyards (15% of all relocations), but 23% less often than expected from a random choice and therefore tend to avoid vineyards as terrestrial habitat. To estimate a possible spatial-temporal overlap of toad migration and pesticide application, we combined telemetry data with information about pesticide applications from local wine growers. Seven individuals had a high probability (>75%) of being directly exposed to a pesticide application. Taking spray drift and the half-life values of applied pesticides into account, the number of toads potentially exposed raised to 15 individuals. We estimated that, on a single day up to 24% of the whole breeding population came in contact with pesticides, resulting in a high overall exposure risk. Pesticides can have negative effects on amphibians, and toads try to avoid vineyards as habitats. Therefore, we conclude that a heterogeneous cultural landscape, with buffer strips around ponds, uncultivated patches and migration corridors, might be the best management measure for sustaining amphibians in the agricultural landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Leeb
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate 76829, Germany.
| | - Carsten Brühl
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate 76829, Germany
| | - Kathrin Theissinger
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau, Rhineland-Palatinate 76829, Germany
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The Genetic Differentiation of Common Toads on UK Farmland: The Effect of Straight-Line (Euclidean) Distance and Isolation by Barriers in a Heterogeneous Environment. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Parejo M, Gutiérrez JS, Navedo JG, Soriano-Redondo A, Abad-Gómez JM, Villegas A, Corbacho C, Sánchez-Guzmán JM, Masero JA. Day and night use of habitats by northern pintails during winter in a primary rice-growing region of Iberia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220400. [PMID: 31344107 PMCID: PMC6658120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of natural wetlands is a global phenomenon that has severe consequences for waterbird populations and their associated ecosystem services. Although agroecosystems can reduce the impact of natural habitat loss, drivers of use of such artificial habitats by waterbirds remain poorly understood. Using the cosmopolitan northern pintail Anas acuta as a model species, we monitored home-range and fine-scale resource selection across the agricultural landscape. Individuals were tracked using GPS-GSM transmitters, and a suite of environmental and landscape features were measured throughout the winter seasons. Spatial patterns of habitat use were analysed using generalized linear mixed effect models by integrating field-observations with GPS telemetry. All birds used rice fields as foraging grounds at night and commuted to an adjacent reservoir to roost during daylight. Home-ranges and maximum foraging distances of nocturnally foraging birds increased with decreasing availability of flooded fields, and were positively correlated with moonlight levels. Birds selected flooded rice paddies (water depth range: 9–21 cm) with standing stubble and substrate with pebbles smaller than 0.5 cm in diameter. Density of rice seeds, rice paddy size, and other environmental and landscape features did not emerge as significant predictors. Our findings indicate that nocturnal foraging of northern pintails within rice fields is driven primarily by straw manipulation, water level and substrate pebble size. Thus, the presence of standing stubble in flooded paddies with soft bottoms should be prioritized to improve foraging areas for dabbling ducks. These management procedures in themselves would not increase economic costs or affect rice production and could be applied for dabbling-duck conservation throughout the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Parejo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Jorge S. Gutiérrez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Juan G. Navedo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Andrea Soriano-Redondo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - José M. Abad-Gómez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Auxiliadora Villegas
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Casimiro Corbacho
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Juan M. Sánchez-Guzmán
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José A. Masero
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
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Kolenda K, Kaczmarski M, Najbar A, Rozenblut-Kościsty B, Chmielewska M, Najbar B. Road-killed toads as a non-invasive source to study age structure of spring migrating population. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1240-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Pettett CE, Moorhouse TP, Johnson PJ, Macdonald DW. Factors affecting hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) attraction to rural villages in arable landscapes. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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